In this blog post, we will explore the concept of IoT, its background and development, core technologies, and its potential to change our daily lives.
What is the Internet of Things (IoT), a technology that has become part of our daily lives?
With the rapid advancement of information technology and the widespread use of the Internet, we no longer live in an era where we have to sit in front of a computer to access the network. With the advent of mobile devices such as smartphones, people can now access the Internet anytime, anywhere, and search for and exchange information in real time.
However, until now, network technology has been limited to specific devices such as computers and smartphones. This technology has not been naturally integrated into the various objects we use in our daily lives. Recently, however, the situation is changing. Ordinary objects around us, such as refrigerators, lights, clocks, and cars, are becoming “smart objects” that connect to the Internet, exchange information in real time, operate autonomously, and provide users with the information they need. This technology is called the Internet of Things, or IoT.
So what exactly is IoT, what is its background and technology, and why is it attracting so much attention?
What is IoT?
IoT is an abbreviation for “Internet of Things.” Literally, it means “the Internet between things,” and refers to technology or an environment in which objects are connected via the Internet to exchange information and cooperate for a specific purpose.
In fact, the concept of IoT is not entirely new. Similar concepts have existed in the past and have been called by various names depending on the era. In the early days, the term M2M (Machine to Machine) was used, which was a concept of maximizing efficiency and synergy through interaction between machines. The next concept to emerge was “ubiquitous.” Ubiquitous computing referred to an environment in which users could access networks anytime, anywhere, but the technology at the time had limitations in fully realizing such an ideal environment.
The term “IoT,” which is widely used today, can be said to be a concept that focuses on commercial purposes and specific applications rather than fundamental technological innovation. In other words, although the roots of the technology are similar, it has been increasingly concretized in a more practical direction.
Definition and Components of IoT
IoT goes beyond simply connecting things to the Internet. It is an intelligent network in which people, things, and services cooperatively sense, transmit, and process information (computing). The important point is that this process can take place without direct human intervention.
The “things” referred to in IoT include not only physical devices (e.g., refrigerators, cars), but also objects in virtual spaces (e.g., avatars, software objects). Humans are not mere users, but are considered “intelligent elements” that include data-based ways of thinking and behavior patterns. Services refer to a series of actions or processes organized to achieve a specific purpose.
Interaction between components
In IoT, each element—humans, things, and services—interacts in various ways.
1. Human ↔ Human: In addition to traditional communication methods, communication is achieved through behavior patterns and thinking.
2. Human ↔ Thing: Information can be transmitted through technologies such as sensors, RFID, and QR codes.
3. Human ↔ Service: Services monitor and respond to user status and requests.
4. Thing ↔ Thing: Devices that detect information and operate based on that information, such as sensor nodes and robot vacuum cleaners, interact directly with each other.
5. Thing ↔ Service: A typical example is a system in which sensors that detect power shortages are linked to smart grid services to automatically redistribute power.
6. Service ↔ Service: Different services exchange information with each other to provide customized experiences to users, such as services that monitor health status and indoor temperature control services.
Key Technologies in the IoT Era
Three key technologies are necessary for the realization of IoT:
1. Sensing technology: This includes not only traditional sensors that detect temperature, ultrasound, location, movement, etc., but also virtual sensor technology that analyzes collected data to extract meaningful information.
2. Communication and network infrastructure: This organically connects people, objects, and services through wired and wireless networks. It is an essential element that forms the foundation of IoT.
3. Service interface technology: This goes beyond simple data transmission and includes various technologies for analyzing, storing, and processing data, as well as recognizing situations and protecting security and privacy. This includes middleware, data mining, semantic web, and open platform technologies.
The Present and Future of IoT
IoT is a concept that has the potential to fundamentally change our lives, going beyond a simple technological trend. In fact, IoT products are increasingly being used in various fields such as home, medical, industrial, and transportation, greatly improving user-centric convenience and efficiency.
However, IoT technology can only be realized through the complex interaction of technologies in various fields such as sensors, networks, and software.
If any one of these is lacking, the overall system will inevitably suffer. For this reason, IoT is not a sudden innovation, but rather a gradual and continuous development.
Just as early concepts such as M2M and ubiquitous computing evolved into IoT, this technology will continue to expand under various names and forms. Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, scenes from science fiction movies will become a reality.
Conclusion
IoT is not simply a fusion of technologies, but the result of evolution to realize a human-centered “smart everyday life.” We are now at the beginning of this journey, and it will be interesting to see how this technology will develop in a more human-friendly and integrated direction in the future.
